Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Natalia’s eyes light up. “I say, hell yeah!”
She downs her drink, and then we head onto the dance floor. On our way, I spot Shane’s friend Trudy, who waves and then walks over.
“I heard we’ll be seeing you tomorrow at the station barbecue.”
“Yep, should I bring something? I asked Shane, but he just said all I need to bring is myself.” I playfully roll my eyes, and Trudy laughs.
“He’s probably just so excited that you’re going.” Trudy grins. “We’re all happy he’s finally found someone. The man has always been such a recluse when it comes to women. I tried setting him up too many times to count, but everyone was a dud. Now, we know why …”
“Why?” I ask, not really wanting to think about Shane dating other women even if that’s ridiculous since we both had lives before each other.
“Because he was waiting on you, sweet girl.”
“Damn right I was,” a masculine voice says, making me twirl around.
Because of the drinks I’ve had, I stumble slightly, and Shane catches me.
“What are you doing here?” I breathe.
“Keeping my promises.” He winks, and I swear my panties dampen.
Trudy laughs, and Natalia snickers.
“I think that means it’s time to call it a night,” Natalia says.
“Don’t leave on my account,” Shane says. “I am one hundred percent on board with watching you dance.”
He pulls me into his arms, so my back is flush against his front. In this position, I can feel his hard length pressing up against me, and I can’t help but rub my backside against him.
My face heats up, and Natalia laughs.
“Neither of you will make it through a single song without jumping each other’s bones. Let’s go. Maybe Kevin will be up still, and we can have phone sex.” Natalia winks playfully, and I groan at how vocal and open my damn family is.
Shane insists on taking Natalia back to her parents’ place, and thankfully, it’s a small town because the entire drive, all I can think about is how badly I want Shane.
He’s dressed casually in a pair of jeans with a blue shirt that has his station’s logo in the corner. The shirt isn’t super tight on him, but it showcases his toned arms and shows off the ongoing tattoo I’ve been working on.
“Like what you see?” Shane smirks when he catches me looking at him.
“I love knowing that I’m the only person who has inked you,” I admit despite Natalia being in the back seat. Then, a thought occurs to me. One that has my blood boiling. “You’d better not let anyone but me finish that sleeve.”
Shane grins and reaches over, taking my hand in his. “You think I’d let anyone touch me but you?” he scoffs. “Not happening.”
“I need to get out of this truck before it combusts with the sexual tension that’s filling the space from you guys,” Natalia whines.
Shane pulls into her driveway, but before Natalia gets out, she leans into the front between us. “I expect a thank-you in your wedding speech since I’m the reason you two met and fell in love. You’re welcome.” She leans over and kisses my cheek and then hops out of the truck, slamming the door behind her.
“I like her,” Shane says.
“Me too.”
“But you know what I like even more?”
“What?”
“Time alone with you,” he says, his lust-filled gaze searing into me. “Taylor is spending the night at her friend’s, so we have the place to ourselves.”
“Mmm.” I scoot closer to him. “Looks like I’ll be screaming your name after all.”
“Damn right you will be,” he says, putting the truck into reverse. “Several times.”
TWENTY-SIX
Kinsley
“There’s a lot of people here,” I say, not realizing I said the words out loud until Shane tightens his hold on my hand.
“It’s for the entire station,” he explains. “I work shift A with four other guys, but there are four shifts at our station, plus everyone’s families.”
I nod in understanding, keeping quiet since there’s a nervous lump in my throat. We live in a small town, and news travels quickly, so the moment I moved into my parents’ pool house, everyone knew about the accident. It’s one of the reasons why I barely left, aside from going to the shop a couple of years later. Everywhere I went, people, especially moms who were my age, would shoot me sympathetic looks while elderly women would offer me their condolences and bring my mom dishes for me. It was all too much. I never knew what to say, so I stopped leaving so I wouldn’t have to say anything.
Honestly, I’m surprised Shane didn’t know my story before I told it to him. The only reason I can guess is because he’s not one to gossip. He seems to stay in his own lane, focusing on himself and his daughter.
“Hey,” Shane says. “Are you okay?” He stops before we make it to where everyone is hanging out and looks at me with concern. “If you don’t want to be here …”